Comments on: Sustainable Landscape Architecture 101

By: Los Angeles Offers Rebate for Ripping Out Lawns « The Dirt

Los Angeles Offers Rebate for Ripping Out Lawns « The Dirt — Mon, 29 Jun 2009 18:45:33 +0000

[...] turf substitutes include drought-tolerant plants, mulch and permeable ground cover.” (see earlier post on sustainable landscape architecture). Drought-tolerant substitutes may require just 15 inches of water per year (the same amount as [...]

By: Jeff Shimonski

Jeff Shimonski — Fri, 12 Jun 2009 17:33:23 +0000

Perhaps I should have written about lawn/banker plant systems that are currently and successfully functioning in Miami, Florida and other cities. No zoning ordinances had to be rewritten for these lawns because they look quite acceptable, not filled with rubbish and debris. Education is the key and when developers and owners are shown that applied sustainable methods not only work but are cost effective, they pay close attention.

By: Daniel Kovach, ASLA

Daniel Kovach, ASLA — Thu, 11 Jun 2009 18:07:18 +0000

While I appreciate and support (for a quarter century) Jeff’s position, I think we would find many local ordinances that would prevent the conversion of lawn to “Banker Plant Systems” under sections dealing with the accumulation of debris, refuse and rubbish, usually including weeds. Perhaps as Landscape Architects we need to be more proactively involved to educate local planning departments for ordinance revision to allow more sustainable approaches. At the same time dealing with their concern of the developer (or owner) who are only willing to take the lowest code requirement as a design approach. In our office we are involved in revisions to the county landscape ordinance and with LID codes.

The two projects mentioned above are both very deserving of award status, but are located in areas where a “no irrigation” approach is a reasonable solution. Here in northern Nevada we are challenged with 10-12 inches annual precipitation, summer temperatures over 100 with hot afternoon winds, winter conditions that are below zero with the possibility of no precipitation for up to two months… It would be interesting to see the response of Dwell editors in the face of our harsh reality. Before hitting the “Submit” button, yes we have been implementing Xeriscape principles since the early 80’s with many innovative projects (and some interesting experimental failures.) Perhaps we need more help in marketing consumers and single family residential developers (who appear to make the most impact) in sustainable practice.

By: Jeff Shimonski

Jeff Shimonski — Wed, 10 Jun 2009 16:05:13 +0000

Let us take “Landscape 101” and the goal of successful sustainable design and look further at our standard chemically enabled lawns. The concept of banker plant systems that are utilized to provide a suitable habitat for rearing beneficial insects should be taken one step further; lawns should be encouraged to become “banker plant systems”. Keep the lawns mowed and perhaps even irrigate once or twice a month but use no pesticides, fungicides or commercial fertilizers. Then over time watch all of these tiny little flowering plants move in; these are the plants that support beneficial insects. This method will enable a further reduction in pesticide use in surrounding landscapes.